Thank you everyone for your company over the last two years in my GCA journey

[Blairmore]

I was diagnosed with GCA in December 2020. With the help of an excellent and very helpful Rheumatologist (who talked me through a few wobbles)support from this website and family, I have been clear since February this year.

I have managed to keep working throughout so feel very blessed. My regime starting with 80mg prednisolone, tapering slowly but steadily adding actemra to the mix halfway through. Although careful with my diet I did have raised blood sugar levels but the diabetes pharmacist attached to my GP practice talked me through it and I am now clear. I do need now to get myself back in shape physically as I am now almost a stone heavier than I was!

Thank you to all who man this website and give faithful service with wise words and humour to all struggling with unfamiliar and scary symptoms. You are stars!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Good to hear - and do hope it lasts a long long time!

I have been surprised I haven't lost weight despite a lot less pred thanks to Actemra - I think I still need to get down to really low carbs ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good news ….

[Carriemetz]

I’d like to echo these thanks to Health Unlocked, and to the ‘old contemptibles’ in particular - Dorset Lady, PMR Pro etc - u know who u are - who always respond so kindly to worries and queries, which are news to new sufferers of GCA and PMR but all-too familiar to them. Thanks for yr generous patience and invaluably detailed, apposite advice, which sustained me and I’m sure countless others thro (in my case) the three year course of my GCA. I stopped pred in March and altho I had many, and quite severe, side-effects of the medication during those 3 years from 2019-2022, and have been left with a cataract in each eye, and a weak back, which may be side effects of long term pred, I accept that I might have had them anyway. So I am thankful, though not over-sanguine, to have ‘come out the other side’

On balance, I am very grateful for prednisolone and immeasurably thankful for this forum and its volunteers which bouyed me up when I was down.

Sometime along the line, the weakness that produced GCA might strike me down with a stroke or heart attack - but in the meantime, I’ll walk as far as I can, drink my wine with relish, and enjoy every minute if the time I have. Good luck to all of us! And especially thanks to Pro, whose sometimes acerbic but always knowledgeable, contributions I have particularly enjoyed. Carrie xxx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Carriemetz]

‘old contemptibles’..! None taken, I'm sure you meant it in the nicest way possible..😂🤣

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Carriemetz]

Lord - am I that bad!!!!!!!